Match Feed

Sydney have now kicked seventeen of the last twenty goals. They have launched a goal from 38 per cent of inside 50's and have had twelve different goal kickers.

Q4 26:50

GOALSwans (Xavier Richards)

Q4 23:21

BEHINDSaints (Rushed)

Q4 21:11

In their last four games, Sydney has averaged the second most disposals per game. They have now surpassed their average and have accumulated 90 more disposals than St Kilda.

Q4 19:45

BEHINDSaints (Jack Steven)

Q4 19:10

Sydney have won 66 per cent of the clearances in this quarter, including six of seven centre clearances. They continue to be efficient from this source, launching three goals for the quarter.

Q4 18:43

GOALSwans (Luke Parker)

Q4 15:10

BEHINDSwans (Lance Franklin)

Q4 13:17

Sydney have blown this game wide open. This is now the equalhighest amount of goals they have generated in a half this season.

Q4 12:43

GOALSwans (Jarrad McVeigh)

Q4 10:38

GOALSwans (Lance Franklin)

Q4 08:59

GOALSwans (Tom Papley)

Q4 08:07

Sydney has applied 42 fewer tackles than their average this season. However, they have been prolific on the outside creating 17 more uncontested possessions than their average per game.

Q4 07:00

GOALSwans (George Hewett)

Q4 05:36

St Kilda has created four more scores from intercept possessions than Sydney. But, they have been unable to capitalize on winning three more clearances.

Q4 05:21

GOALSaints (Jack Newnes)

Q4 04:27

St Kilda InterchangeTom Hickey off due to an injury.

Q4 00:37

GOALSwans (Josh P. Kennedy)Snap (15-30m, Corridor)

Q4 00:00

Q4 is now underway.

Q3 31:02

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Q3 30:06

GOALSwans (Lance Franklin)Mark, Play On (0-15m, Corridor)

Q3 30:06

Sydney have dominated this quarter with 58 more disposals, six more inside 50's and four more goals from just eight clearances. Lance Franklin has had a season high 15 disposals for the quarter, whilst Daniel Hannebery had four clearances.

Q3 27:42

Both Blake Acres and Daniel Hannebery have been influential for their respective sides with 10 and 11 score involvements each.

Q3 27:25

BEHINDSaints (Maverick Weller)

Q3 26:24

GOALSaints (Leigh Montagna)

Q3 20:52

BEHINDSwans (Isaac Heeney)

Q3 19:47

GOALSwans (Luke Parker)

Q3 19:39

Sydney have now kicked eight of the last nine goals. They are ranked number two in the competition for launching scores from their defensive midfield, where six of their 15 goals have come from tonight.

Q3 18:34

St Kilda InterchangeDavid Armitage off due to an injury.

Q3 16:40

BEHINDSwans (Gary Rohan)

Q3 15:10

St Kilda InterchangeSam Fisher off due to an injury.

Q3 14:51

Lance Franklin has a gamehigh eight disposals in this quarter as well as four score involvements including two goals.

Q3 14:16

GOALSwans (Lance Franklin)

Q3 13:05

GOALSaints (Blake Acres)

Q3 12:06

Sydney's disposal efficiency is 83 per cent this quarter and they have launched a goal from all three of their clearances for the quarter.

Q3 11:27

GOALSwans (Lance Franklin)

Q3 09:45

GOALSwans (Toby Nankervis)

Q3 08:16

BEHINDSwans (Toby Nankervis)

Q3 07:49

BEHINDSaints (Rushed)

Q3 05:55

At the fifth minute mark of the third quarter, Sydney has already equaled their average marks inside 50 per game (11).

Q3 05:33

GOALSwans (Luke Parker)

Q3 04:05

Sydney are ranked number two in the competition at generating clearances, but only eighth for points from this source. Tonight they have won the same number of clearances, but have launched four more goals.

Q3 03:26

GOALSwans (Tom Papley)

Q3 01:37

GOALSwans (Isaac Heeney)

Q3 00:17

BEHINDSaints (Jack Newnes)

Q3 00:00

Q3 is now underway.

Q2 29:38

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

Q2 28:38

BEHINDSwans (Luke Parker)

Q2 28:29

St Kilda has applied eleven more tackles than Sydney so far with this pressure enabling them to launch six more scores from intercepts. However, Sydney has launched five goals from just 19 clearances.

Q2 26:09

Sydney are struggling to create intercepts in their forward half with just five in this zone. On the other hand, St Kilda has created ten intercepts and launched five scores from this zone.

Q2 23:33

BEHINDSaints (Josh Bruce)

Q2 23:06

Jack Newnes and Blake Acres have been influential with 268 and 300 metres gained respectively. They have also combined for nine tackles and Acres has had eight score involvements.

Q2 19:32

GOALSwans (Tom Papley)

Q2 18:12

Three of St Kilda's seven kicking turnovers have come in their attacking midfield and they have been punished with two goals from Sydney.

Q2 16:06

GOALSwans (Lance Franklin)

Q2 14:50

St Kilda are ranked 10th, launching a score from 20.6 per cent of intercepts. Tonight, they have launched a score from 37.5 per cent of intercepts, well above the first ranked side.

Related

THE SYDNEY Swans have moved a step closer to a top-two finish and ended St Kilda's finals charge with a dominant 70-point win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

In a fearsome reminder of their premiership credentials, the Swans produced a second-half blitz to turn an arm-wrestle into a cakewalk, kicking their highest score of the season to win 23.8 (146) to 11.10 (76).

And in perhaps the most worrying sign for the rest of the top eight, it was superstar Swan Lance Franklin who returned to his best form to turn the match on its head.

Defender Sam Fisher also suffered a jaw injury late in the third quarter that ended his night early, with backman Jarryn Geary withdrawn pre-game with a back injury.

While Franklin was the headline act, the Swans' A-grade midfield was at its best, with Luke Parker (33 possessions and three goals), Dan Hannebery (37 and nine inside 50s) and Josh Kennedy (35 and eight clearances) all enjoying big nights.

NAB AFL Rising Star contender Callum Mills (27 and eight marks) was typically composed in a match that will only strengthen his case for recognition as the game's standout youngster.

North Melbourne's loss to Hawthorn on Saturday had kept their finals dream alive and, in the AFL's first Pride Game, they played like a team with their season on the line early.

In an entertaining first half, the Swans and Saints traded goals under the roof with no team able to build a meaningful margin and the lead changing 10 times.

The Saints' tackling pressure has become their trademark under Richardson, and it was the one area they had an edge on their opponents, with every other indicator neck and neck.

Richardson was left disappointed and somewhat confused post-match as to why his players fell away so badly after the main break.

"It was as if the guys just completely ran out of legs and just didn't quite have the real appetite for the brutal contest after half-time, which was surprising," the coach said.

"We acknowledge they're at a different level to us, so to match that for a half was positive. But to fall away as badly as we did was disappointing.

"They certainly showed us the way in a few areas and we'll learn from this game."

Returning for his first senior game since round 15, young forward Paddy McCartin imposed himself early, marking well, pushing up the ground and kicking two first-half goals.

Midfielder Blake Acres was also impressive early and kicked on to finish with 23 possessions and 1.3.

Captain Nick Riewoldt was his team's best with 24 touches and a goal, also moving into the ruck to relieve Hickey, while David Armitage (29 and seven clearances) and Leigh Montagna (27 and a goal) battled hard all night.

MEDICAL ROOMSt Kilda: Sam Fisher was taken to hospital on Saturday night for checks on his injured jaw and also suffered hamstring tightness, which he was able to play through. Tom Hickey will require scans on a lower left leg injury, which severely impact his movement and saw him put on ice once the result was settled. Jarryn Geary seized up in his back during a tackling drill in the warm-up but could be cleared to play next week. Sydney Swans: The Swans got through unscathed. They have been unchanged for two weeks, but tall forward Kurt Tippett has trained fully all week and Longmire said post-match he was a strong chance to play in round 22.

NEXT UPThe Swans travel to Blundstone Arena for the first time since 2013 to face North Melbourne in a match crucial to their top-two aspirations. St Kilda faces Richmond at the MCG and will be looking to end a six-game losing streak against the Tigers.